AU Commission Chairperson on official visit to Benin

COTONOU, Benin, July 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- African Union Commission Chairperson H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has arrived in Cotonou, Benin at the invitation of the President Yayi Boni for an official visit from 24-27 July 2014, as well as to deliver a statement at a Ministerial Conference of Least Developed Countries on Monday 28 July.

The AUC Chairperson will meet with President Yayi Boni at State House during which they will discuss regional and continental issues ranging from agriculture and food security, infrastructure, regional integration projects, peace, security and development, particularly, but not limited to issues emanating from the 23rd AU Summit in Malabo.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma and President Yayi Boni will also discuss preparations of the upcoming 1stUS-Africa Leaders Summit scheduled to take place in Washington DC, US from the 4-6 August 2014. President Yayi Boni will offer a State Dinner in honour of the AUC Chairperson.

Beyond her engagements with Government Officials, Dr. Dlamini Zuma will be engaging and discussing with women's groups, on their contributions to Africa's development.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma will travel to Benin's capital city, Porto-Novo during which she will visit the Business Promotion Center, the “Ecole du Patrimoine African”, and also meet with a cross-section of women beneficiaries of Benin's micro-credit schemes. She will visit the Songhai Project (for Agri-business and agricultural entrepreneurs), which hosted the 3rd batch of AU Volunteer programme in December 2012.

Following the official visit the AUC Chairperson will on Monday, 28 July 2014 deliver an opening statement at the Ministerial Conference on New Partnerships for Productive Capacity Building in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) scheduled to take place in Cotonou from 28-31 July 2014.

According to the organisers (UN-OHRLLS), the conference aims to identify new and innovative partnerships to strengthen productive capacities in the LDCs identified as a priority area in the Istanbul Programme of Action. It will also discuss cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, women empowerment, employment and sustainable development.